Course 2, Chapter 14: The Burial and Resurrection of our Lord

1. What miracles were wrought at the death of the Saviour?

At the moment the Saviour expired, the darkness

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which had covered the whole earth since the sixth how was dispelled. The veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom; the earth shook; rocks were torn asunder; the tombs opened, and the dead rose to life.

2. What effect did fhese miracles produce?

The centurion who guarded the Saviour's tomb was converted, and cried aloud: This man teas truly the Son of God. The soldiers who had crucified him, also cried out: Thin man was truly the Son of God. Finally, a great number of other persons, having witnessed so many prodigies, returned, striking their breasts.

3. What did the chiefs of the synagogue do?

The chiefs of the synagogue went to Pilate, to have the legs of the three who had been crucified broken. Pilate sent soldiers to do what the Jews had asked.

4. What did the soldiers do?

The soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves; but peeing that Jesus was already dead, they broke not his legs. One of the soldiers opened his side with a lance, and immediately there issued forth blood and water.

5. What do you remark on the above?

I remark that each of those circumstances was the result of a special providence. For although the Saviour was already dead, still the soldiers could have broken his legs. But it was necessary that the Scrip tures should be fulfilled. God had said, in speaking of the paschal lamb, a bone of him you shall not break. The figure was to be realized in the Saviour, the true paschal lamb. Again, it was contrary to orders, or at least without the order of their officers, that one of the soldiers pierced the side of Jesus with a lance. But it was necessary that this other prophecy should also be accomplished: They looked on him whom they had yierced.

6. Who were they who buried the Saviour?

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A . Joseph, of Arimathea, and Nieodemus buried the Saviour. They wrapped him up in fine linen and perfumes, and placed him in a new sepulchre, hewn out of a rock, and where, as yet, no body had been laid; then having closed the entrance with a large stone, they departed.

7. . What precaution did the chiefs of the synagogue take?

They obtained of Pilate guards whom they placed over the sepulchre; they sealed with the public seal the stone which closed the entrance; but all this tended the more to prove their weakness, and the truth of the resurrection of our Lord.

8. When did he rise again?

He rose again on the morning of the third day. Soon after, Mary Magdalene and other holy women, carrying with them perfumes and spices, arrived at the sepulchre. They entered, but did not find there the Saviour.

9. To whom did the Saviour first show himself?

He first showed himself to Mary Magdalene and then to the other holy women, and he told them to announce his resurrection to Peter, and to his disciples.

10. What did the guards do?

The guards went into the city and told the chiefs of the synagogue all that had happened. Immediately the chief priests and ancients assembled, and gave the guards a large sum of money, telling them: You will say that his disciples came and stole him, under the cover of night, whilst you were asleep.

11. What do you remark upon this?

All this was a gross deceit, for the purpose of deceiving the people; for the chiefs of the synagogue did not themselves believe it; neither did they perse cute and put to death the apostles for stealing the body of their Master and falsely preaching his resurrection, but only for preaching contrary to their orders.

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